help someone wanting to learn jazz

nickyboy · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 10:03 am Post subject:

i would love to play jazz this yea in the school jazz band and was wanting some help on what type of thing i should learn such as scales and certain techniques
thank you for those who answer
_________________
Nick P.

severinsen · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 10:47 am Post subject:

Listen to as much jazz as you can. Hit eBay and Amazon and buy as many CDs as you can afford and then study them. Don't be too concerned with scales just yet. Technique and style will come after some time. Good luck!
~Jim

trjeam · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:42 pm Post subject:

Join the school jazz band and learn as you go. that's how I learned. I just joined the county jazz band and learned as I went along. And of course always listen different artist.
_________________
Jorge Ayala Jr: Trumpeter/Producer
http://www.facebook.com/JorgeAyalaJr
http://www.twitter.com/JorgeAyalaMusic

nickyboy · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:30 pm Post subject:

Jim i cant hit ebay or amazon cuz im broke. (no job, no money, but hey im in the band) but i have downloaded some jazz and for the other post (sry can t member you name right now) thats probaly what ill do mostly
_________________
Nick P.

NTlead · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:15 pm Post subject:

Sorry you're broke. That sucks. But definitely, definitely listen to Jazz. When we first started Jazz band I knew people that had to work for hours to try and get a sorry excuse for a swing style, when all you really have to do is listen to the stuff and it will all start to make sense.

Oh, and I've been on and off broke for years, and something that works for me is to go to the library and check out their jazz CDs. My library has hundreds of Jazz CDs, but I've been told that's one of the nicer selections. Regardless, you should try.

A List of people to listen to:

Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Dizzy Gillespie
Charlie Parker
Clifford Brown
Lee Morgan
Sonny Rollins
Duke Ellington
Count Basie
Roy Hargrove
Charles Mingus
Thelonious Monk

If you find it boring because you're used to listening to rock check out:

Miles Davis: Aura, ESP, Bitches Brew, Live From Around the World
Maynard CDs
Herbie Hancock

Those will help ease you into liking jazz (worked for me)

And Have Fun!

nickyboy · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject:

I listen to swing music (big bad voodoo daddy, glenn miller) almost all day on the pc and i do have some dizzy and the Ratpack music it is fun stuff to listen to
we are playing a herbie hancock piece as a flag featurein our show this year title is watermelon man

[ This Message was edited by: nickyboy on 2004-07-24 19:55 ]

fuzzyjon79 · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 4:59 pm Post subject:

I would recommend going to Chase Sanborn's website and looking around. He has written a great book called Jazz Tactics that is GREAT!!! I am probably the most square player out there...but this book has really helped me to understand jazz.

http://www.chasesanborn.com/
_________________
J. Fowler
"It takes a big ole' sack of flour, to make a big ole' pan of biscuits!"

Tom LeCompte · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:23 pm Post subject:

Two words. Jamey Aebersold.

He sells (at $15-20 each) a set of books starting with the very basics, along with a CD of rhythm tracks that you can practice with. The key to improvisation, like any other skill on the horn, is practice, practice, practice. He makes this easy, and in particular, breaks it down into managable bites. While I agree with the other comments that listening to as much jazz as you can is valuable and even necessary, I don't think that will do it by itself. It's often difficult to know where to start, and the jazz greats are so far beyond the beginner (that's why they are jazz greats) that they give little guidance there.

If you can't afford the cost of a book, mow a lawn or two, and then you can.

Cheers,

Tom

Billy B · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:04 am Post subject:

Get a library card. They have plenty of CDs to check out.

JasonHarrelson · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 5:57 am Post subject:

If you don't have money and don't foresee making any money in the near future, then consider this...

Find a local jazz musician who teaches and performs regularly. Volunteer to do chores; i.e. mow the lawn, paint the fence, etc. in exchange for lessons/guidance. I have three students that work in my shop and occassionally do chores for me. However, these kids have been with me long enough that they get paid cash and I build them horns. BUT when we take breaks, we go into my studio and jam with Aebersolds. And they always know where to catch me in live performance.

Don't think about it...go do it. I wish I had when I were in HS or college.

Speaking of which...if any trumpet-heads are serious about learning and would consider an apprenticeship in my shop, please call me. I am very demanding, but encourage anyone to apply. Brass repair experience is a must. If you don't have experience, go get it!

Jason Harrelson

_________________
Harrelson Modified Trumpets
24 Second Street West
Waconia, MN 55387
(952) 442-8789
hmt@ll.net

[ This Message was edited by: JasonHarrelson on 2004-07-27 08:57 ]

telex95 · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:14 pm Post subject:

I agree with Tom, Jamey Aebersold has great play-along jazz books, they are fun to play along. There are also some fundamentals, and basic theory stuff included in the book.

A lot of people recommand Chase Sandborn's Brass Tactics and Jazz Tactics, but I don't find it that helpful. He talks a lot of stuff that are irrelevant and unrelated, but that's just my opinion.